Effectiveness of Pitfall Trap Colors in Monitoring Adults of Blister Beetle Meloe proscarabaeus Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Meloidae) in Faba Bean Fields at El-Farafra Oasis Egypt

Abstract: The blister beetles Meloe proscarabaeus Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Meloidae), is a
dangerous pest that threatens the agriculture of faba bean fields in El-Farafra Oasis,
New Valley Governorate. In this study, an evaluation of the efficiency of different
pit-fall trap colors for capturing adults of the blister beetles has been performed in
faba bean (Vicia faba L.) fields. The experiment revealed that the green and red
traps showed the highest number of captured beetles during the 2020 and 2021
seasons, which was highly significant to other traps’ colors. On the other hand,
black, blue, gray, white, and yellow traps showed insignificant differences in the
number of captured beetles. Concerning the sex of trapped beetles; it could be
highlighted that the green trap attracted more female beetles than males with
significant differences. Inversely, the red color trap attracted more males than
females with significant differences. Approximately 40% of the captured beetle
population was recorded in March, while only 11% were trapped in April. A Green
pit-fall trap could be deemed a new estimating assay to suppress M. proscarabaeus
adults in faba bean fields since the color trap variation affected the number of
captured beetles. Therefore, color traps can be relied upon as an effective method
in controlling beetles without the number of beetles reaching the limit of economic
damage and in a manner that is safe for the environment.
Publication year 2023
Pages 25-32
Organization Name
serial title Plant Protection
Web Page
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    Wael EA El-Sheikh Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Beni-Suef University, Egypt
Publication Type Journal
↑